This little portage park gem is so cute and cozy. The staff is welcoming and pointed out their 2016 holiday drink menu which caught my eye! They're candy cane hot chocolate was spot on... the minty chocolate goodness made me feel warm on the first day of December. #holidayspirit Other than that they're menu has classic drinks to house specialties and they even have a full food menu! Oh by the way, in a little section of the Perkolator there is a record/book store! How rad is that?! Thanks portage park for my new fave neighborhood coffee joint read more

Perkolator - Candy cane hot chocolate & there is a surprise at the end of your drink - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the comfort and friendly service. Another plus, it's right by the neighborhood. Beside, I love supporting local business! read more

Perkolator - Latte and marble cookies - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute little coffee shop right near a library. I've only been here twice but I wanted to review as I'm impressed by their seasonal drink selections. For example, I just had a delicious toasted coconut latte with coco shavings on top. You don't find that everywhere. Great service & friendly smiles. read more

Great people, amazing coffee!! The space is nice and cozy and they even have local artists work up on the walls.. I purchase my beans here from and my lattes at home come out amazing!! I hear good things about their sandwiches so I still have yet to try them and they also have homemade soups! Great lil spot to add to this awesome Portage Park neighborhood! read more

Perkolator - The Cortado - espresso and just the right amount of steamed milk.. Good stuff!! - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this neighborhood place. I don't drink coffee, but their teas and sandwiches draw me in anyway. In the cooler weather they offer soups which are quite tasty. The atmosphere and service are delightful. This is the first place where I've actually brought my laptop along so I could enjoy the vibe of the place while getting a bit of work done. I'm very happy to have Perkolator in our neighborhood! read more

I spend a whole work day here catching up on my paperwork. The staff are all super friendly and helpful. The americano was delicious and freshly prepared, and they had almost every conceivable nut milk available, including macadamia nut. The breakfast burrito was decent enough on its own, but they also have a bewildering variety of hot sauce is available to spice things up. Anywhere that has both Cholula and Sriracha available is amazing in my book. There is a fair amount of seating, though not so many electrical outlets. Music throughout the day was enjoyable and eclectic, and they also have a record store attached to the cafe. Definitely worth coming back. read more

Perkolator - Breakfast burrito - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Always a friendly crew! Really great breakfast sandwiches/burrito!. We did their cold brew & donut delivery last summer and looked forward to it all week. read more

You've probably walked or driven past it countless times, but the next time you pass by you've gotta stop in! I find it amazing that they are hand making the breakfast sandwiches and burritos as you order them. Eggs freshly cracked and perfectly crafted. The coffee is great, the Frozen Perk even better. I always roll my eyes at reviews that talk about the "ambiance" but I've gotta say this place has a great ambiance too. You honestly can't go wrong, and I highly suggest it. read more

Today was my first time going there and the service was great! Super chill and such a great spot to enjoy some expresso. The whole time i was there i kept repeating in my head "It's time for da perkolator!".. even though it's perculator. haha read more

A good way to start an early morning. Wifi connection is always decent and the coffee selections are always great. Joe and his staff are quick to engage clients in conversation and seem to genuinely care about the well being of their community. I've had the veggie breakfast burrito more than a few times. I stick with espresso or drip coffee which have always been done just right. They have juices and chocolate milk for kids and assorted baked goods from a local source. The culture and vibe are relaxed and welcoming. The mid-morning rush sees a mixture of moms with toddlers, business folk, and students in the cafe. I would recommend that you give the Perkolator a try and am very happy they have landed in Portage Park. read more

This place is awesome! !!! The people that work here are super friendly, always busy (in a good way) cleaning or talking to customers. I love the feel and the look of the place. Coffee is spectacular. This is my new morning/afternoon/whenever coffee stop. read more

Thought this place had a very cute and calming. Right when you walk in you automaticly feel welcomed. Read a more in depth review on my blog! https://elainaevers.wixsite.com/elainnaaev/single-post/2017/11/26/The-PerkOlator read more

I love this place. The breakfast burrito is super yummy and their lattes rock! 5 stars for having oat milk, WiFi and a record/book store attached. read more

My fiancé and I woke up early after a wedding last night and we we're starving. We saw this place was super close to our Airbnb. We ordered online and was ready when we got there. It is DELICIOUS! I'm a huge fan. read more

Great service. Eclectic staff space and customers. Adjoined with a book store. Lots of deco chairs. Very few outlets. The wraps looked really good. read more

Perk up at the Perkolator! Great local coffee shop in an area that is craving more locally-owned establishments. Owner Joe is on a one-man mission to transform Portage Park/Irving-Austin into something worth writing home about. The shop boasts kitsch décor and a friendly atmosphere. The drinks are good, the customer service is great, and the community atmosphere is second to none in the area. Great job guys! Keep it up. read more

Super cozy spot, good music. The owner is really nice, and makes people feel welcomed. I had the veggie bagel sandwich, very good, the bagel was so soft and fresh tasting. My Mom had the wrap, she seemed to enjoy it, we both liked how chill it was inside. I didn't have coffee so I can't review that, we had iced tea which was good. I will stop in anytime I am in the neighborhood. read more

I've always had good experiences at the Perkolator, and I imagine I will continue to enjoy my visits here. Friendly staff, cool ambiance, books, and tasty food/drink options. What's not to like? Sometimes, the food wait can be a little long, but they don't have a big kitchen, so just keep that in mind when there is an influx of customers. I want to take my parents here the next time they're in my neighborhood because my Mom is an avid collector of vintage items, especially percolators. Thanks, Perk! You'll always be one of my favorite Chicago spots. read more

This place is awesome. The owners are usually there and they have truly put their heart and soul into this cafe! Ask for a luminous latte; coconut, vanilla, mocha! Was simply delicious ! read more

Perkolator - Store front - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a great spot, Portage Park is lucky to have a place like this. Not just a mere coffee shop, they serve food and have a record store and bookstore adjacent to the cafe as well. They clearly serve a niche as there were all walks of life here, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Cops, toddlers, seniors, families, etc. The coffee and pastries are great, and I'll be back to try a sandwich or breakfast burrito next time. The decor is unique and eclectic, with local art on the walls and even a play space for kids. A great community-oriented business that you should support. read more

I would drive all the way up there to just chill in this coffeehouse again. When you walk in, there are tons of different vintage kitchen tables and chairs. It is such a cute place!! While I walked up to the counter and I also looked to the left to see a record store!! I did not get a chance to go over to that side but I can't wait to go again. The gentleman at the counter was very friendly and recommended a couple items on the menu. I ordered a Egg, Cheese and Sausage sandwich and a Pumpkin flavored White Mocha. When I asked about what kind of milks they have, I was curious to try their Macadamia Nut Milk (I have never heard about this before, and per the guy at the counter, they are probably one of the only ones that offer it!!) Although I felt the wait time was a little long for the food, I realized that as opposed to other mainstream corporate coffee houses that basically have their sandwiches already pre-made and frozen with just a pop in a microwave to make it ready, this place actually makes their breakfast sandwiches. It was definitely worth it! My friend ordered a breakfast sandwich, and when she didn't eat the bread, one of the ladies asked if her sandwich was okay when she came to pick up our plates. My friend told her that she doesn't eat bread and the lady told us that they can customize the sandwich and just put the egg, cheese and sausage on the plate next time. Very accommodating! We stayed here for two hours, not because we haven't seen each other in awhile, but because it was just so comfortable here. read more

I absolutely love this place! I wish it was closer to where I live...Id come here anytime I had to get work done. Staff is great, good is delish. Ceprese panini was especially good. Lots of sitting space and plenty of outlets. Can get a lil chilly inside so bring a sweater if ur prone to that. They have books, records and comic books to browse as well. read more

I have to leave this here before I leave , The perkolater is cozy , aesthetic, the book store next door is cute and the employees are so kind and smile when they see you. I definitely recommend this place. read more

I stop here for coffee all the time and i'm so glad to have this place in the neighborhood. The service is always good and I don't have to wait too long. It has a laid back atmosphere where you can come and study or just read a book. I have also had the paninis from here which are very tasty. My favoritite is the one with pesto. I will definately keep coming back. read more

First off, not much of a review person except for the places I really love. This is one of them. I recently moved from Roscoe Village to the Jefferson/Portage Park area and I was really missing my favorite coffee shops in the old neighborhood. A friend recommended I check out Perkolator and it has been such a life saver! The cold brew and specialty lattes are daily drinks for me and I almost always grab a pastry (warmed up apple turnover is super yummy) or a bagel. On the weekends, we splurge on the breakfast burrito and it is SO GOOD. We were Cafe Tola regulars so we're so happy to have a new go-to breakfast burrito spot in the neighborhood! So the drinks and food are on point, but honestly it's the staff that make this place so special. Seriously, the staff is awesome. Everyone is so kind and inviting, probably one of the best atmospheres of any coffee shop I've frequented in the city. Super grateful to have this place nearby :) read more

Delicious breakfast burrito. I know, a coffee shop having tasty food? But yes it's true, these are actually homemade delicious sandwiches. I especially love the layout of this shop, a library and play area for kids and great seating outside. Gives a whole new feel to the neighborhood. read more

Perkolator - Breakfast burrito and sausage and egg sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great atmosphere. Came here a very times with friends to chat over coffee, can be crowded sometimes, but not too bad. Comfy spots to sit as well as tables and chairs. Their dark chocolate mocha is amazing, and they have many many drink options. Have tried a few of their bakery treats, which I enjoyed...most recently had the blueberry scone, which was very good. Great neighborhood spot! read more

Perkolator - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a cute neighborhood spot my boyfriend and I frequent when we don't feel like cooking breakfast and/or want good coffee, but don't feel want to leave the neighborhood. I completely love the ambience. Very homey. They also have a collection of vinyl records next door that you can peruse while you wait for your food/coffee. The sandwiches are great. We've had their breakfast burrito, wraps, and paninis and have no complaints. I especially like the baconanatella and it's exactly what you think it is - bacon, banana, and nutella in sandwich form. So good if you have a sweet tooth like me. Their online menu doesn't show their specialty coffees, but just come here and order their mocha something (I'm the best reviewer lol) and you can high five me later. The staff is always friendly and they have fun signs on their tip jars. It's also quiet so if you're looking to get some light work done or read a book, this would be a perfect place. read more

Our favorite coffee shop. Every day my son asks if we can go to the "cafe with toys!" Breakfast sandwiches are great, especially the jalapeño popper. read more

I know we're still in the pandemic, but c'mon. I waited 30 minutes for 2 cold turkey wraps, and when I got home, I realized they forgot the chips that came with it. read more

Love this place!!! so glad it is walking distance from my house! Best Cafe con Leche! read more

The iced latte was okay. It did wake up me pretty well but the taste wasn't amazing. The Panini was good, nothing super special but it was satisfying. read more

Love this place! Great atmosphere. Great spot to bring your laptop and do some work or to read a book. Their coffee is really good too. Visited them based on their reviews and I will definitely come back. read more

Thought I would check out this neighborhood coffee shop as I am a big supporter of independent small business. Horrible coffee and service. Would not recommend for anyone who is friend or foe. read more

One of my fave coffee spots with an amaaaaaazing iced latte. They also make a nicely balanced white chocolate raspberry hot latte I love coming here with a good book of my own or to sit in the little bookshop right nextdoor. read more

Really cute place and has great coffee. Enjoyed my cortado today - it was made perfectly! It was pretty warm in there with the sun beating in (imagine that - sun in Chicago on a winter day!), but the coffee and atmosphere made up for it. read more

Great addition to the neighborhood! Joe and company are the hostess with the mostess they make everyone feel welcomed. Perkolator has great coffee selections and food. I stopped buying coffee from the store and come here instead. They grind my beans for my Keriug without judgement which I appreciate. I love how they support the neighborhood and not just their own interests, they use products from the neighborhood (deli meats) and ensure everyone thrives. They showcase local artists work as well and have a relaxing funky vibe in their decor. read more

Great people and great product. Had two amazing bagels and rice Krispy treats. Great start to my morning.

I worked as a barista for 8 years of my life so needless to say I have become a coffee fiend, ha! I prefer mom and pop shops and spending money where I know it is deserved. I moved into the neighborhood a few months ago and scoped our this spot. Let's just say I'm pretty obsessed. Not only is it a phenomenal cafe but also a little space themed record store! The coffee is strong (necessary for me), the breakfast burritos are huge and delicious and the calm atmosphere cheers you up. Home away from home! read more

the baristas were by far the best baristas I've encountered. I loved their willingness to go above and beyond for their customers. Plus the good food and good lattes - what more can you ask for? read more